Gas-main bag.



No. 827,835. PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

' J. H. WHITE.

GAS MAIN BAG.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 17,1904.

3 sums-SEEM 1.

THI mums rxrsns 270., wunmoron, n. c.

No- 827,835., PATENTED'AUG. v, 1906. J. H. WHITE.

GAS MAIN BAG.

APPLIUATION TILED NOV.17,1904.

3 BHEE'lS--SHHl-I'J.v 2;

. I 4. 951 mom w vtwaooco No- 827,835. 'PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

' -J. H. WHITE.

GAS MAIN BAG.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIImIIII/[III!!!4 avwentoz 3513 Qttozmq @Vdmeooeo @wmUNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE...

JOHN H. WHITE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO A.BELL MALCOMSON, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

GAS-MAIN BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Aug. 7, 1-396;

Application filed November 1'7, 1904. Serial lilo. 233.065.

. tion of a main, it is the practice to make two small erforations inthe main at points each side of the vicinity of the leak and throughthese holes to insert expansible plugs, which when expanded fill themain at these separated points and cut off the gas. Then by suitableapparatus it is ascertained whether the leak is in the portion of themain between thse perforations. Temporary plugs or stoppers are usedalso upon other occasions. Usually the plug is in the form of a bladdermade of rubber, which may be thrust readily through the smallperforation in the main and by means of an attached tube is expanded bythe workman, who blows through the tube and fills the bag. Owing to theinevitable escape of gas through the perforation in the main, which ofcourse is breathed by the workman, the operation of placing andexpanding the bladder is quite dangerous, workmen frequently beingovercome by the fumes and taken to hospitals to recover. The danger isincreased by reason of the pressure or flow of the gas in the main,which when the bladder is partly full floats it alongwith the current ofgas and carries it past the perforation in the main. This makes itnecessary to find means to work the bladder back past the perforation,which is usually done by the use of short sticks or the like; but themanagement of the bladder during [the inflation thereof is exceedinglydifficult and the operation tedious, and during the whole time theworkman or workmen are exposed to the necessity of inhaling the escapinggas.

The object of my invention is to put the bladder fully under the controlof the workman and render it perfectly manageable throughout theinflating operation, so that the workman can approach the main with thebladder, instantly insert the bladder through the perforation and in theproper position in the gas-main in advance of the perforation, andquickly inflate the bag without the least liability of the displacementor floating of the bladder along by the current of gas in the main andavoiding danger from overinhalation of gas.

I control the bladder by means of a stock inserted therewithin andpreferably having an exterior extension or handle which is readilyremovable from the stock as occasion may arise. By means of the stockthe workman can readily maintain absolute control of the position of thebladder and without the necessity of attempting to, peer into the mainto locate the blad'der,the position of the portion of the stock orhandle that projects. from the main being sufficient to inform himprecisely of the position of the bladder, supplemented by theinformation afforded by the interior end of the stock encountering theobstruction of the inner wall of the main.

In the accompanying drawings, Fiure l is a perspective view of one formof temporary plug made in accordance with my invention,

the bladder being shown deflated. Fig. 2 isa sectional view showing agas-main perforated and plugged by the device seen at Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa sectional view of another form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview showing another form of inflating means. In both Figs. 3 and 4 thebladder is shown deflated. Fig. 5 shows the preferred form v of theinvention. Fig. 6 illustrates the preferred manner of connecting thestock to the bladder. Fig. 7 shows the bladder when wrapped around thestock ready for insertion into the gas-main. Fig. 8 showsthe device whenfirst inserted in the main, and Fig. 9 shows the bag after inflation inthe main and adjustment of the testing-tube,

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the thin elastic rubber bag or bladder isseen at 1, the interior or axial stock at 2, and the flexible infla-t-'ing-tube at 3. At its upper end the stock is threaded at 4 to receiveinterior and exterior nuts 5 6, whereby the material of the bladder istightly clamped, so as to renderthe same air-tight, washers 7 8 beingplaced between the nuts and the bladder through a small perforation inwhich the stock projects. Ifdesired, the bottom end of the stock mayproj ect through the bladder and be secured thereto in a similar mannerby nuts 9 10 and washers 11 12. The tube 3 may be of rubber and insertedwithin and cemented to a nipple 13, formed in the bladder near thestock.

The nut or head 6 may be prolonged or sleeve-like in form, and thethreaded tip of a long handle 14 may be screwed thereinto and readilydetached and attached, as required.

In operation the thin and flexible material of the bladder is wrappedaround the stock, as shown in Fig. 7, which is then thrust readilythrough the perforation 15 in the gas-main 16, and by giving the handlethe proper inclination and thrusting it in until it contacts with thebottom interior wall of the gas-main the proper position is given to'thebladder,

'3 which is then filled by the workman through the tube 3 and caused tofill the gas-main tightly, the portion of the bladder which contactswith the wall of the gas-main assuming a cylindrical form, as seen at17, the end of the stock because of its inclination being outside ofthis cylindrical portion, and hence having no tendency to impair theefficiency of the plug by holding the adjoining portion of the bladderout of contact with the bottom of the main. The tube 3 is thentemporarily sealed either by tying a knot in it or by tying it up with astring. The handle 14 may then be unscrewed without disturbing the plug,(although for some purposes it is unnecessary to removethe handle,) anda short pipe 18 may be screwed into the perforation 15, which isthreaded for this purpose. This I pipe, which is indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 2, is a portion of the apparatus used for testing the mainfor a leak and need not be further described but it will be noted thatpreferably provided with a knob 20 within said pocket. This avoids thenecessity of perforating this end of the bladder, thus reducing cost andavoiding liability of leakage, so that if the stock is suficiently longto 3 maintain the bladder in the desired position during its inflationit will be found satisfactory in practice. I prefer to make the stockextend practically the entire length of the bladder; but the inventionis not limited to a stock of that length.

The form of the invention seen at Fig. 4 is the same as that shown atFigs. 1 and 2, except as to the inflating means. The stock is made inthe form of a tube 21, having outlets 22, and the bladder is inflatedthrough this tube and these outlets. The rubber tube 3 instead of beingattached directly to the bladder is caught upon a nipple 23', projectingfrom the threaded sleeve or head 24, which corresponds to the part 6seen at Fig. 2, an elbow-passage 25 in said member 24 establishingcommunication between the tube 3 and the end of the tubular stock 21.The member 24 is in the form of a T, receiving at one end the threadedend of the stock and at the other end the threaded end of the handle 14but the stocket for the handle is closed at the bottom by a partition 26to avoid liability of leakage through said socket. It will be apparentthat the member 24 may be cast or made in one piece with the stock 2,and it is immaterial whether the stock joins the member 24 on theinterior or exterior of the since the air enters through the stock.

In the form seen at Fig. 5 the stock is in the form of a perforated tubefor the passage of air and is provided at its lower end with a cap 27,having a knob portion 20 to engage the pocket 19, although the cap,knob, and pocket are not essential in all forms of practicing theinvention The wall of the bladder is preferably thickened or reinforcedat the lower end of the same, as seen at 28, to compensate for the extrawear received by this end as the device is thrust into and against theWall of the gas-main. The threaded sleeve or head at the top of the bagis designated as 29 and resembles the head 24, (seen at Fig. 4,) exceptthat the nipple 30 is at the top and close'by the side of the handle 14,thus making the construction more compact, so that it can be readilythrust through a relatively small perforation 15 in the gas-main. Thepassage 31 extends down to the hollow stock, which is preferably in linewith the handle 14.

At Fig. 6 is illustrated the preferred method of securing the stock tothe bladder, the perforation 32 in the latter being made at the centerof a thickened portion 33 of the rubber and surrounded by an annularbead 34, fitting in an annular depression 35 in a nut 36, threaded uponthe stock. By turning the head 29 the rubber is clamped between thewasher 8 and the nut 36, and the bead 34 serves to retainthe rubber, sothat it will not slip out between the nut and the washer.

Other variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention,and portions of my improved device may be used Without others.

' It will be observed that my invention involves the use of a flexiblebladder as distinguished from a firm hollow rubber ball used as astopper to be inserted in the open end of a pipe and then distended. Inthe latter case astifl, thick, resilient rubber ball with a diameterequal to or slightly smaller than the bore of the pipe is used.

In my invention the bladder is of thin ma terial which has no resiliencyand is limp and flabby and without form when not inflated, so that itlies against and may be wrapped closely around an interior guiding stockand readily passed through a comparatively small hole in the wall of thegas-main. The device should also be of such construction thatsubstantially all of the plugging and inflating portions may lie withinthe circumference of the gas-main or be housed within the upright tube18 when the main is being tested. This latter object I accomplish byhaving the stock controlled, while inserting the bladder, by an exteriorhandle 14, which is readily removed from interference with theadjustment of the test-tube 18 after the bladder is properly insertedand inflated, while the flexible inflating-tube 3 is housed inside thetube 18, as shown in Fig. 9.

In practice I prefer to have one end of the rigid guiding-stockterminate inside the blad-- der, so that there is greater securityagainst leakage or wear and tear from an additional hole at the far endof the bladder; but I do not wish to limit myself to such aconstruction, as my invention comprehends the use of a collapsiblenon-resilient bladder with a rigid interior guiding-stock around whichthe comparatively thin bladder is closely wrapped which permits of itsbeing readily passed obliquely into a gas-main through a comparativelysmall hole in the side of the pipe and held in such position by an outerhandle during the operation of inflation.

It will be apparent that my improved con-.

struction enables the operator to readily comply. with municipalregulations which limit to a comparatively small size holes to be tappedin gas-mains in order not to weaken such mains. At the same time therigid central stock and handle permit the operator to hold a cloth orcotton-waste firmly around the stock at the hole, and thereby preventthe escape of gas while he is adjusting and inflating the bladder.

By the term bladder as used by me in this specification is meant anair-tight bag which will lie limply around the interior rigidguiding-stock when not expanded by the pressure of air on its interior.The material of which the bladder is composed is immaterial so long atit complies with the necessary requirements of being air-tight andcapable of being folded into small compass around an interior stock.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A temporary plug for gas-mains comprising a central rigid stock, anon-resilient collapsible. bladder adapted to be wound closely aroundthe stock, the major portion of said rigid stock beingwithin thebladder, means for inflating the bladder and a rigid controllinghandle-piece for the stock, exterior of the bladder, substantially asshown and described.

2. A temporary plug for gas-mains comprising a collapsible bladder, ahollow stock having air-outlets within said bladder and carrying acap-piece, exterior of the bladder, for attaching an inflatin -tube anda controlling-handle, substantial y as shown and described.

3. A temporary plug for gas-mains, comprising a non-resilientcollapsible bladder, a rigid guiding-stock penetrating said bladder atone end extending through the interior thereof and terminating therein,said stock being provided with a detachable handle, and means forinflating the bladder substantially as shown and described.

4. A temporary plug for gas-mains comprising a non-resilient,collapsible bladder, a hollow perforated rigid guiding-stock penetratingsaid bladder at one end and terminating therein at or near the oppositeend thereof, and means connected with said hollow perforated stock forinflating the bladder therethrough substantially as shown and described.

5. In a temporary plug for gas-mains, the.

combination with a non-resilient flexible bag, of a rigid guiding-stocktherein which passes through the wall of the bag and is secured theretoat another point, means for securing the bag close to said stock at saidpoints without rigid lateral projections such as to prevent closewrapping of the bag upon the stock, and means for inflating the bag,whereby said bag may be inserted through a small opening and guided toand held in proper position in the gas-main, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. A temporary plug for gas-mains, comprising a collapsible bladder, ahollow stock therein, said stock terminating at one end within and closeto the exterior of said bladder, and at the other end passing throughsaid bladder and provided with means for attaching a handle, and aflexible inflating tube, exterior of the bladder, substantially as shownand described.

7. A temporary plug for gas-mains, comprising a bladder, a stocktherein, and means for inflating the same; said bladder having at oneend a pocket, and said stock penetrating said bladder at the other endof the latter and being secured thereto, and having at its inner end aknob within said pocket.

8. A temporary plug for gas-mains, comprisin a bladder, a stock therein,and a flexible in atin '-tube; said stock penetrating one end of theladder, clamping means makin an air-tight connection between the bladderand the stock, and the inner end of the stock being provided with aknob.

9. A temporary plug for gas-mains, comprising a collapsible bladder, astock therein, and an inflating-tube; said stock extending substantiallyfrom one end of the bladder to the other, and terminating therein, andone of the said bladder and stock elements hav ing provision for theattachment of said inflating-tube.

10. A temporary plug for gas-mains, comprising a collapsible bladder,adapted to be closely wrapped around a guiding-rod for placing the samein the main, said placingrod being composed of a rigid stock within thebladder, and means for inflating the bladder when within the mainsubstantially as described.

11. For use in a gas-main bag of the class described, a rigid stockhaving one end formed to terminate within and engage the interior of thebladder and provided with means at its outer end to pass through andmake an air-tight connection with said bladder substantially as shownand described.

12. For use in a gas-main bag of the class described a rigidguiding-stock its major portion formed to lie in the interior of saidbag, the remaining portion formed to project through the bag and make anair-tight connection therewith and provided with means for attaching arigid controlling-rod on its exterior portion, substantially as shownand described. 13. A gas-main-bag stock, comprising a rigid bar endingat one end in a button and at the other end in a threaded part andflanges adapted to receive and clamp an air-tight collapsible bladder,and provided with means for attaching a handle and an inflating-tubeexterior of the bladder substantia ly as shown and described.

' JOHN H. WHITE. Witnesses:

M. M. AoHEsoN,

M. F. CARROLL

